The Bengals had enough offense to win in Pittsburgh. They just couldn’t survive the self-inflicted wounds.
Cincinnati fell 30-27 to the Steelers on Sunday in an AFC North fight that kept swinging back and forth in the second half. The Bengals grabbed the lead more than once after halftime, but every time they seemed ready to seize control, a mistake opened the door again. In the end, Joe Burrow got knocked down and coughed up the ball while the Bengals were driving for either the tying field goal or the go-ahead score.
Burrow was excellent throughout the afternoon. He went 28-of-37 for 282 yards and a season-high three touchdowns, and he completed his 14 passes on the day. He kept finding answers, including a touchdown throw to Mike Gesicki on 4th-and-2 and another strike to Tee Higgins on what stood out as one of the best catches of the season.
The numbers on the outside told the same story. Ja’Marr Chase led Cincinnati with nine catches for 98 yards, while Higgins finished with six grabs for 90 yards.
But the Bengals’ defense never settled in. Pittsburgh put up 17 first-half points, including two long touchdown drives, and scored on four of its first five possessions with three of those ending in touchdowns. That early surge let the Steelers get the crowd into it and set the tone before Cincinnati could fully respond.
There were some second-half bright spots, but the damage from the opening stretch was already hanging over the game. Jaylen Warren ran for 121 yards.
Darnell Washington caught a 47-yard pass. Roman Wilson hauled in a 38-yard touchdown.
The Bengals also made a string of mistakes that proved costly when they had a chance to take control. Cedric Johnson ran into Steelers punter Cameron Johnston while Cincinnati led 20-17 and was positioned to get the ball back with a chance to build on that advantage. Instead, Pittsburgh got an automatic first down and eventually took the lead with a touchdown.
Later, Dax Hill and DJ Turner collided, leaving Aaron Rodgers with a wide-open DK Metcalf in the end zone.
Then came another swing. Ke’Shawn Williams muffed a punt after the Bengals had moved ahead 27-24.
The defense got a stop, and Burrow was set to get the ball back with the lead. That possession never happened.
Cincinnati did force a game-tying field goal, but by then the bigger chances had already slipped away. The Bengals kept finding ways to move in front, yet the mistakes kept giving Pittsburgh life and kept Burrow from getting the final shot to finish it.
The Bengals are back home next Sunday, Oct. 3, when they host the Jaguars at 1 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Bengals Draft Regret Suddenly Looks Even Worse After Burrow Hit
The Bengals entered the 2025 draft hoping Shemar Stewart would become a difference-maker off the edge, but the early return has only sharpened the spotlight on that decision. Selected 17th overall, Stewart had a minimal rookie impact and then did not play a defensive snap in Cincinnatis AFC North opener in his second season, a development that left the Bengals looking for answers from a pick they expected to help reshape the front.
Meanwhile, Derrick Harmon, the defensive tackle the Steelers took in that same range, was making his presence felt in the same game with a key strip sack. For Cincinnati, the comparison is hard to ignore because it goes beyond one play or one afternoon, touching the way the defense might have looked, the resources the team has tied up, and how much pain lingers when a first-round swing doesnt land the way the front office envisioned. [Read more 🡒]
Amarius Mims Passed A Huge Bengals Test Despite One Costly Mistake
Amarius Mims had the kind of game the Bengals have been waiting to see from their 2024 first-round pick. Against the Steelers, he held up well at right tackle and gave Joe Burrow a cleaner pocket than Cincinnati has often had this season, even with Pittsburgh sending elite pressure off the edge. For a young tackle still learning the NFL pace, the performance suggested he can already handle big moments against top pass rushers like T.J. Watt.
Of course, it was not a spotless afternoon. Mims had some penalties and a late pass protection breakdown, the sort of hiccup that can swing attention in a close divisional game, and Cincinnati fell 30-27 anyway. The bigger concern for the Bengals was not just one rookie mistake, but how the loss also featured problems on defense and special teams, leaving Mims' encouraging work as one of the few clear positives to come out of the day. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Injury Concerns Suddenly Loom Larger After Steelers Loss
The Bengals left Pittsburgh with more than just a loss to process, and Zac Taylors postgame injury update added another layer to an already uneasy Sunday. Colbie Young looks likely to miss next weeks game against the Jaguars, while several other injured players remain in limbo as Cincinnati tries to sort out its roster heading into the next stretch.
Taylor also addressed defensive end Shemar Stewarts limited workload, tying it to his recent practice history, while Joe Burrow said he came out of the game without any new injuries. Burrows focus was on the missed chances against the Steelers, but the bigger question for Cincinnati now is how many moving parts will still be available when the Bengals try to bounce back. [Read more 🡒]